Born to Lead? by Glyn Harper & Joel Hayward

Author:Glyn Harper & Joel Hayward [Glyn Harper and Joel Hayward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781927147399
Publisher: Exisle Publishing
Published: 2011-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

1944

Major General and General Officer Commanding 2nd New Zealand Division Cassino Battle (February)

Seriously wounded on Mount Trocchio in March, which ends his active military career

1944–1945

Major General in charge of Repatriation Unit for New Zealand POWs Britain

Successes

During his long years of campaigning, Kippenberger experienced many successes. Two of the most important were his fine performance on Crete in May 1941 and his equally masterful performance at the Battle of Medenine towards the end of the North African campaign.

It is ironic that Kippenberger should come to prominence during a campaign that is well known for highlighting significant New Zealand command failures. Yet that is what occurred during the 10 days of the Crete campaign. At the start of the fighting on 20 May 1941 Kippenberger commanded a composite brigade in a valley immediately behind the Maleme airfield position. Despite spraining his ankle early on that first morning during a brush with a German paratrooper, Kippenberger commanded his brigade with skill and vigour. Although he was forbidden to counterattack enemy positions, aggressive patrolling and well-sited defensive positions kept the Germans at bay for two days. When he later had to abandon his defensive positions Kippenberger was kept in the front line to put some ginger into the New Zealander defenders. On 25 May this decision proved its worth and Kippenberger was able to prevent a rout of panicking New Zealand troops. Drawing his pistol, he walked among the retreating soldiers shouting, ‘Stand for New Zealand!’ It worked: the men rallied and the line held.

But that evening the Germans took the junction village of Galatos and Kippenberger again rose to the occasion. He organised and personally directed a counterattack on Galatos using whatever scratch forces could be found. His aim was to hit the enemy hard using speed, aggression and surprise. The counterattack proved successful. Many Germans died under New Zealand bayonets that night, the village was retaken and the New Zealand troops won a valuable respite. Although the respite was only temporary, General Bernard Freyberg later described the action at Galatos as ‘one of the great efforts in the defence of Crete’.

After Galatos Kippenberger rejoined 20 Battalion and marched with it over the White Mountains to the evacuation beaches at Sphakia. It was a hard march for weary soldiers, but Kippenberger’s sprained ankle made it that much worse for him. Many other units disintegrated under the pressures of defeat, but Kippenberger maintained his battalion intact and brought it safely back to Egypt. Crete had been a tough test for the inexperienced commander, but it was one he passed well.

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